Mail-deliverer.



W. M. GORTHELL. MAIL DBLIVBRBR.

APPLICATION IILBD 00T. 6, 1909. l

Patented May 31, 1910.

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l I i NDRew HAMMAM o Puorouv RAPuERawAsmNGToN, D

W. M. GORTHELL MAIL DELIVERER.

APPLIUATION FILED 00T. s, 1909.

959,468. Patented May 31, 1910.

W. M. CORTHELL.

MAIL DELIVERER,

APPLIUATION FILED 001.6, 1909.

Patented May 31, 1910.

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IIN'ID STATES PATEN FFIQE.

WILLIAM M. CORTHELL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO RAILWAY AUTOMATICMAIL DEVICE CO., A CORPORATIN OF ILLINOIS.

MAIL-DELIVERER.

To all 'whom 'it may concern:

Beit known that I, VILLIAM M. CORTHELL, a resident of Chica-go, in thecounty of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Mail-Deliverers; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains tomake and use the same.

This invention relates to mail delivering apparatus for moving cars, andespecially to apparatus for delivering bulky mail, such as newspapersand packages in bags or the like.

The object of the invention is to provide improved means whereby heavyor numerous bags may be easily and safely delivered automatically from acar, and the invention consists in the construction hereinafterdescribed and particularly pointed out.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates the invention and formspart of the specification, Figure 1 is a side view, partly broken away,of the device on a car;4 Fig. 2 is a view at right angles to Fig. 1, thedevice being set for operation; Fig. 3 is a like view after operation;Fig. t is a partial perspective view of the frame and locking andoperating connections; Fig. 5 shows means for controlling the operatingarm.

It is sometimes desirable to provide mail cars with a special apparatus,distinct from that used to catch and deliver first class mail, forthrowing from the car the more bulky mail matter, and is such anapparatus which is to be described, though if desired first class mailmay be delivered by it also.

Numeral 1 denotes the floor of a car, and 2 a side doorway which may beat the middle of the car, or if the saine car is to have also a catcherand deliverer for first class mail, there may be two side doorways atopposite ends of the side of the car for the two devices respectively.

Inside the doorway is a platform or bagsupport which preferably consistsof a metal frame 3 on the upper side of which is secured a wood or otherfloor 4c on which the bags to be delivered may be laid. rIhe outer edgeof the bag-support is connected to the end of one arm 5 of anangle-lever, which is pivoted at the angle, at 6, in a bearing 7 securedto the floor. This arm 5 is connected by the front bar or tube 9 of thebag-support Specication of Letters Patent.

Application led October 6, 1909.

Patented May 31, 191.0.

Serial No. 521,304.

to an arm 8 having a bearing 7a. If tube 9 is rigid with the rest offrame 3, as it may be, arms 5 and 8 will be connected to the tube 9 bysleeves 10 in which the tube can turn. But if tube 9 is not rigid withthe frame but is loosely sleeved thereto, arms 5 and 8 will be rigidlyfixed to tube 9, it being only necessary to have a pivotal or hingeconnection between said parts.

In normal position when set to deliver arms 5 and S stand upright andform a strong support, holding the front of the platform elevated, sayeighteen inches above the floor. 'Ihe other arm 5l of the anglelever issleeved to the free or lower end of one member 11 of a toggle or knucklelever, the other member 11a of which is pivoted to member 11 at itslower edge, at 12, and to a fixed bearing and abutment 13 on the innerwall of the car at one side of the doorway. As shown, the proximate endsof said members are enlarged, and are of corresponding shape so as tobear directly against each other and thus be rigid when in set position.

14 denotes a rope or chain connected to one of said members, at 15,extending over pulleys to an arm 1G to which it is fastened. Arm 16 isrigid with a vertical shaft 17 having bearings on the outside ofthe carwall at one side of the doorway. The shaft is preferably supported by acollar above the lower bearing, as shown. A spring 18 is connectedbetween arm 16 and the bottom of the car to return the shaft after ithas been moved to effect a delivery of mail.

To the bottom of shaft 17 is pivoted an operating-arm 19, free to swingin a vertical direction, but rigid with the shaft transversely. Arm 19,when not set for operation, is held up (in full line position Fig. 1) bya rope or chain 20 under control of an operator on the car. Said rope 20may, for example, extend over pulleys to a lever 21, pivotally mountedat a convenient height on the inside of the car. IVhen approaching aplace where mail is to be delivered the operator in the car raises theweighted handleend of the lever, thereby lowering arm 19 so that itsouter bent end is in position to contact with, and be turnedhorizontally by, a long cam rail 22 supported beside the track at anangle thereto. After passing the cam rail arm 21 is released and fallsto normal position and raises the operating arm 19 to safety position.Although the spring 18 ioo is shown for returning the shaft 17, saidspring may be omitted when the cam rail is arranged to turn arm 19 firstaway from the track and then back toward the same. r stop arm projectingfrom shaft 1T is denoted by 24e, and normally rests against the outsideof the car under action of the spring 1S.

At the front edge of the bag-support is a guard 26, preferably an openframe, to prevent accidental falling of bags from the platform. Saidframe is pivoted to the bagsupport at 27, the ends of the frameextending below the pivots to form short arms 28, which are pivoted tolinks 29, the lower ends of which have fixed pivotal bearings 30. Therear or inner edge of the bag-support has two (or other suitable number)legs 50, the upper ends of which are pivotally connected to the innerside of frame 3 of the bagfsupport, and the lower ends of which areadapted to rest loosely in suitable sockets or depressions in the carlioor, as shown. Legs 50 are longer than legs 5 and 8, and when in setposit-ion incline from their pivotal connection downwardly andforwardly, and hold the bag-support at an angle with the floor about asshown. lVhen the bag-support is operated by the cam rail, arm 19, etc.,it moves bodily forward in the doorwaj7 (as distinguished from a meremovement around a fixed pivot) and its outer edge moves toward the carfloor, while at the same time the inner edge of said support moves awayfrom the floor, whereby the inclination of the bag-support is rapidly'and easily increased, and whereby when the bag-support is suddenlyarrested by the car floor an outward throw is given to the mail.Movement of the bag-support as just described operates the guard frame26 through connection 2T, arms 2S, and links Q9, to swing said frame 2Goutwardly so that it comes to rest in inverted position against theoutside of the car below the doorway. This `guard only moves out of theway when it is time for the mail bags to leave the platform, andinstantly passes into position where it does not project from the car toan objectionable extent. The bag-supporty may be left in its forwardinclined position until wanted for the next delivery. Or by swinging itsrear legs from under it, may be laid flat on the floor to permitloading; and when required for use moved to set 7 or raised position,which is done manually by raising it, adjusting the rear legs, andstraightening the knuckle joint to lock the parts. Or if desired, whennot in use frame 3 may be raised vertically against the inside of thecar door and there held out of the way.

By providing opposite cam rails, that is, rails the far ends of whichare near the track rail, and the near ends of which are farther from thetrack rail, the described device is adapted to deliver on the same sideof the car whichever way the car is moving.

The work required to be done by the cam rail and the operating-arm, andconnected parts, is merely to bend or break the knuckle joint, and tostart the bag-support forward, and this is not greatly affected by theamount of weight on the platform.

The pivoted lever Q1 may be raised by a cord and pulley, as shown, or byother suitable means. The short. arm of lever 21 is curved eccentricallyto the pivot, and cord 2O is connected to the extreme outer end in suchmanner that the cord laps around the curved part as the lever moves. Thecurve varies the leverage as the lever moves. lVhen the lever hangs innormal position it is nearly counterbalanced by arm 15). After arm 19 isarrested by the stop flange at the foot of shaft 1T the entire weighthas to be held by the cord and handle, and when arm 19 passes off thecam rail, and level' 21 is released, the connection is in position ofgreatest eiiciency to raise arm 1). lllhen arm 19 is operated by the camrail cord 2O can yield the necessary amount.

Having described the invention what 1 claim as my invention is,-

1. The combination with a car having a doorway, of a bag-support in thecar at a distance above the floor, and means whereby said support ismoved bodily forward in the doorway and simultaneously its outer edge islowered and its rear edge is raised to eject a bag from the support.

2. The combination with a car, of a bagsupport, pivoted arms adapted tohold the front of said support above the car floor and to swingforwardly and downwardly therewith, and legs supporting the rear edge ofsaid bag-support, said legs inclining forward from said rear edge to thecar Hoor, whereby forward movement of the bag-support raises its rearedge and lowers its front or outer edge.

8. The combination with a car, of a bagsupport inside the car andadapted to be, inclined toward the car doorway, and means comprising avertical shaft, a cam rail and an operating arm connected to said shaftand moved by said rail for moving said bagsupport forward and increasingits inclination.

L1. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of anelevated bagsupport adapted to be placed in a car iuside a doorway,pivoted supports for the bag-support, means temporarily locking thesupports in position to hold the bag-support elevated, and meanscomprising a vertical shaft, an operating arm, and a cam rail, for

releasing the supports and starting the bagsupport forward.

5. The combination of a bag-support adapted to be placed inside thedoorway of a car, pivoted supports for the bag-support, and meansincluding knuckle-levers temporarily locking the pivoted supports inposition to hold the bag-support above the car Hoor, and means includinga cam rail and an arm operated thereby for bending said levers andstarting the bag-support forward.

6. The combination with a car, of an elevated bag-support, meanssupporting the bag-support and including an angle lever pivoted at theangle of a bearing on the car floor, an arm of the angle lever beingconnected to the front of the bag-support, and operating means connectedto the other arm of said angle lever whereby said bag-support will beswung outwardly and downwardly.

7. The combination with a car, of a bagsupport inside a side doorway, ananglelever-support for the forward edge of the bag-support, said leverbeing pivoted at its angle, a knuckle-lever connected to one end of theangle-lever and normally locking it in position to operate, andautomatic means for bending the knuckle-joint, whereby the angle-leveris unlocked and moved to carry the bag-support outwardly.

8. The combination with a car, of an elevated bag-support, anangle-lever pivoted at its angle, an arm thereof supporting thebag-support, another arm thereof supporting an end of one member of aknuckle-lever, a fixed bearing for an end of the other member of saidknuckle-lever, whereby when said members are in set position thebag-support is locked in raised position, and means for bending thejoint between said members.

9. The combination with a car, of an elevated bag-support, anangle-lever pivoted at its angle, an arm thereof supporting thebag-support, another arm thereof supporting an end of one member of aknucklelever, a fixed bearing for an end of another member of saidknuckle-lever, and means for bending the joint between said memberscomprising a. cord operatively connected to a shaft mounted on the car,an operating arm fixed to the shaft, and a cam rail.

10. The combination with a car, of an elevated movable bag-support inthe car, a body at the outer edge of the bag-support and connectedthereto to prevent accidental discharge therefrom, and means operatedby.

movement of the bag-support for moving said body out of the path of thebag to be delivered.

11. The combination of a bag-support movable forwardly and downwardly,an upwardly extending guard at the front of said support, and meansoperated by such movement of the bag-support to swing said guarddownwardly out of the way.

12. The combination with a car, of a bagsupport in the car andV movableforwardly and downwardly, into the car doorway, an upwardly extendingguard pivoted at the front of said support, and means operated by suchmovement to swing said guard to inverted position against the outside ofthe car.

13. In a device of the character described, a mail-holding platform,means comprising legs for supporting the platform at a distance abovethe floor of a car, such means permitting the platform in use to swingbodily forwardly and downwardly in the doorway, and when not in use tobe moved to a position flat on the floor of the car, whereby it will notobstruct such doorway.

14. In a device of the character described for delivering mail from amoving car, a mail-holding platform, means for supporting the platformat a distance above the floor of a car, said platform being pivoted atits outer edge adjacent the car doorway, the inner edge being free torise whereby the platform may be swung up against the inside of the carout of the way.

15. The combination with a mail-handling device for a car comprising ashaft and a cam-operated-arm, of a weighted lever pivoted in such car,and a connection between said lever and arm of varying radius.

16. The combination with a shaft and operating arm, of a weighted lever,the short arm of the lever having an eccentric curve at its bearing end,and a flexible connection between said operating arm and the curved endof the lever, as set forth.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

VILLIAM M. CORTHELL.

Witnesses:

C. IRENE CLooxER, H. L. FRANC.

